1. No category

Mevlana International Journal of Education (MIJE)
Vol. 5(1), pp. 10-25, 1 April, 2015
Available online at http://mije.mevlana.edu.tr/
http://dx.doi.org/10.13054/mije.14.61.5.1
According to the Opinions of Teachers and Students Active Citizenship
Education in Elementary School 1, 2
Yücel Öksüz
Ondokuz Mayıs University, Faculty of Education, Department of Primary Education, Division
of Primary School Teaching, Samsun, Turkey
Ceren Çevik Kansu3
Bayburt University, Faculty of Education, Department of Primary Education, Division of
Primary School Teaching, Bayburt, Turkey
Article history
The aim of this research is to define the opinions of class teachers,
Received:
social studies teachers and 4th grade students in elementary school
14.04.2014
on active citizenship education. Qualitative method has been used
Received in revised form:
in this research. In Bayburt, the city chosen by purposeful sampling
04.03.2015
and based on volunteering principal, had 24 class teachers
(Female=8, Male=16), 10 social studies teachers (Female=5,
Accepted:
05.03.2015
Male=5) and 20 4th grade students in elementary school
(Female=11, Male=9) studying in schools around Bayburt city
Key words:
center have taken part in this research. Semi-structured interview
ClassTeacher, Social Studies
Teacher, Elementary School 4th technique was used as a data gathering method. The data was
Grade Student, Active
obtained by two different semi-structured interview forms which
Citizenship Education.
contain 12 open ended questions for teachers and 5 open ended
questions for students. The answers given by the students and
teachers were resolved with the content analysis method. Various
categories have been formed by coding the answers for each
question. The frequencies of those formed categories were
compared by converting them into tables. When analysis was done
by comparing opinions of teachers and students, it drew the
attention of the teachers on active citizenship education and
developed more qualified methods by identifying the inadequacy in
teaching of lessons.
Introduction
In this day and age, all nations are aiming at raising individuals who can be at peace
with themselves and also be aware of their desires. They want to raise people who can express
their feelings and opinions clearly, question judgments but at the same time respect the
feelings and opinions of others, who have the culture to live together in peace and who can act
right for the nation's sake. The education processes developed in order to make this aim come
1
This study was conducted with permission of Bayburt Directorate of National Education and was
financially supported by OMU Scientific Research Council (Project ID: PYO.EGF.1904.13.007). We
thank all organizers for supports.
2
This study is the improved version of the verbal declaration presented in 22nd Education Sciences
Symposium.
3
Correspondence: [email protected]
Mevlana International Journal of Education (MIJE), 5(1); 10-25, 1 April, 2015
true must be qualified in every way. While students are learning their rights, responsibilities
and freedom, they must also learn the laws, equality, justice, democracy and nondiscrimination. Citizenship education is important because it gives students the necessary
education and also teaches them the abilities that are needed to build a democratic nation.
Democratic citizenship education supports the respect for different religions, cultures and
opinions; therefore, it enables the understanding and sharing of different social values (MEB,
2012).
The citizenship education in the Turkish education system conspiratorially started during the
Tanzimat Reform Era. It was one of the reforms in education made during this era to put
emphasis on citizenship education in order to build bridges between the citizens and the state.
When it comes to the Republic Period, the main aim of the citizenship education is to raise
individuals who love their country and know their citizenship rights and responsibilities.
Education of human rights and democracy in Turkey has been involved in some courses such
as Civics, Social Studies and recently Education of Citizenship and Human Rights.
According to the Eurydice reports, the goals of citizenship education are: ‘(a) developing
political literacy (knowledge of basic facts and understanding of key concepts); (b) acquiring
critical thinking and analytical skills; (c) developing certain values, attitudes and behaviours
(sense of respect, tolerance, solidarity, etc.); (d) encouraging active participation and
engagement at school and community levels’ (Eurydice 2012: 27).
Keser et al.’s (2011) study findings were compatible with EURYDICE Report (2005) –
political literacy, critical thinking and development of certain attitudes, values, and active
participation- on citizenship education, which yielded six themes, called the six blossoms of
extra-curricular activities in citizenship education: namely, active citizenship perception;
social accountability; intercultural awareness; awareness of democracy and human rights;
thinking and research skills; and interaction and interpersonal skills. But, Guerin et al. (2013)
studied four different categories that citizenship education has to cover. They are theoretically
and empirically analysed: political knowledge, critical thinking, values, attitudes and
behaviours, and active participation. Both studies are related to the dimensions of Hoskins et
al. (2006) and Mascherini, together with Manca and Hoskins’s (2009) findings. Out of the
these main dimensions, related with sub dimensions of the scale that was developed by ÇevikKansu and Öksüz (2014) , there are also many studies in literature which are related on to
environmental sensitivity (Ferkany and Whyte 2013; Jagers et al. 2014; Jin and Shriar 2013;
Tarrant and Lyons 2012), interest in activities (willing to social clubs, social activities,
extracurricular activities etc) (Keser et al. 2011; Yaman 2011), social response (İnce 2012;
Phillips 2011) and voluntary participation (Guerin 2013; Wood 2014).
It is possible to say that nations that cannot raise active, claiming and responsible individuals
are also deprived of dynamic powers. Dynamic power is only possible by an active education
during the education and training life of individuals in which they should be taught to be
conscious of the rights that they have just because they are humans with a very long
genealogy. With such an education, people will want to use and defend their rights. They also
learn to recognize why and how their rights should be defended. When considered from this
point of view, the course of Social Studies in the last grades of elementary school takes care
of this task.
Although each step of education is vital, primary school has a distinct significance in terms of
the populace it addresses. Primary school process, when the basic character and personality of
the person’s is formed, which is a critical time period to have value, attitude and behavior
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According to the Opinions of Teachers and Students Active Citizenship…Y. Öksüz & C. Çevik Kansu
gained for the individual (Bacanli, 2002; Oktay, 2007). Owing to the fact that the foundation
stones of citizenship education are laid in primary school, therefore primary school is
regarded as an important fracture point in terms of citizenship education (Ersoy, 2007).
Aim of the Study
The aim of this study is to present the opinions of students and teachers on active
citizenship education.
Method
The qualitative research approach was used in this research. In qualitative researches,
perceptions and events are presented in a reaslistic and totalitarian way in natural environment
(Yıldırım and Şimşek, 2005). In this study this approach was preferred because it ensures the
full participation of all the participants involved in the research.
Research Staff
The research staff was formed by 24 class teachers working in Bayburt, which is the
city chosen by purposeful sampling and based on volunteering principal, (Female=8,
Male=16), 10 Social Studies teachers (Female=5, Male=5) and 20 4th grade students in
elementary school (Female=11, Male=9).
Data Collection and Analysis
Furthermore, a semi-structured interview method was used as the data collection
method. A semi-structured interview form which contains 12 open ended questions based on
expert opinion was developed by the researchers for the teachers to state their opinions on
active citizenship and Active Citizenship Education. These interview forms have been
analysed by specialists in their field. Besides, the teachers were asked to give some personal
information in the interview form. The face to face interviews were carried out by using a tape
recorder based on volunteering principal. After the interviews, the recorded data was
converted into text.
The answers of the teachers were analysed by the content analysis method. Various categories
were formed by coding the answers for each question. The frequencies of those formed
categories are presented under the findings title by tabulation converting them into tables.
Findings and Comments
The collected data were categorised into 3 different groups which include; class
teachers, Social Studies teachers and 4th grade students in elementary school.
The findings as a result of the analysis made on the questions in semi-structured interview
form are presented in tables.
1. Opinions of Teachers and Students on the Features that an Active Citizen Should Have
The answers of the teacher to the question “What does the concept of citizenship mean
to you?” and the frequency distribution are shown in Table 1.
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Mevlana International Journal of Education (MIJE), 5(1); 10-25, 1 April, 2015
Table 1. Opinions of teachers and students on the features that an active citizen should have
and the frequency distribution
1.
2.
3.
Citizenship
and Consciousness
of Personal Skills (14)
Class Teachers
Human Rights (22) Responsibility (14)
Citizenship
and Consciousness
of Environmental
Social Studies
Human Rights (7)
Responsibility (2)
Consciousness (1)
Teachers
th
Consciousness
of Environmental
4 Grade Students in Properties (20)
Responsibility (13)
Consciousness (12)
Elementary School
Teachers and students displayed more than one variable features in their replies about the
features of active citizenship. Teachers named A. K., S. N., Ü., A. and Y. have defined an
active citizen as a person who know his/her rights and uses them. The teacher named A. K.
has defined an active citizen as “An active citizen is a person who knows his rights and uses
them” (26).
The teacher named M. stated his opinions on this subject as “Active citizenship is to know the
responsibility of the state and the nation and to pull one's weight” (32).
Teacher A. describes “An active citizen should respect the laws and know the rules and apply
them in his/her daily life” (8).
Generally, students expressed their opinions with the examples of being respectful in
friendship relations and relationships with adults, by being tolerant and being kind hearted.
2. Opinions of the Teachers and Students on the Sufficiency of Social Studies Courses in
Gathering Active Citizenship Features
The answers of the teacher to the question “According to you, is the content of Social
Studies Course for 4th grade in elementary school sufficient in gathering “active citizenship”
features? If there is any, what is deficient?” and frequency distribution are shown in Table 2.
Table 2. Opinions of teachers on sufficiency of social studies courses in gathering active
citizenship features and frequency distribution
Sufficiency of Social Studies Courses in f (Class Teachers)
f (Social
Gathering Active Citizenship Features
Studies
Teachers)
The content mentions this subject and it 3 (1,15,36)
1 (12)
is sufficient
“I think the content is sufficient but what 1 (2)
is important is how much we contribute to
its development”
“These subjects are mentioned in the 3 (1,36, 15)
1 (12)
content”
The content is sufficient but it must be 20 (2,4,6,7,8,16,17,19,20,23,
6 (3, 11, 25, 26,
improved
24,28,29,31,32,33,34,35,37,38) 27, 30)
“It is not updated”
3 (4,8,17)
1 (3)
“The subjects’ compatibility with the 1 (4)
1 (3)
environment is missing”
“There
is
few
activities
for 7 (4,17,29,33,34,35,38)
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According to the Opinions of Teachers and Students Active Citizenship…Y. Öksüz & C. Çevik Kansu
implementation”
“We cannot give space to the children for
them to make up their own values.”
“There is no connection between the units
and subjects.”
“Instead of detailed ones, subjects must be
short but to the point.”
“It is abstract and superficial.”
“It must be objectified.”
The content is not sufficient
“It does not improve thinking skills.”
“Students present different behaviors
because of the effect of their
environment.”
“The education must be based on the love
of country, nation and flag.”
“Rights and responsibilities must be
given.”
“Some trips must be planned to see on
site.”
“The collaboration with parents is not
enough.”
“There are regional and environmental
problems, that's why it is not supported.”
“The problem is not with the content,
because it is difficult for children to gather
those features.”
“It will be more sufficient if it is taught by
teachers who were specially trained in this
subject.”
I do not have an opinion
1 (6)
1 (7)
1 (27)
1 (8)
3 (19,34,35)
2 (35,38)
5 (5,9,13,18,21)
2 (5,17)
1 (9)
2 (11, 30)
3 (13,16,23)
1 (18)
2 (19,22)
1 (20)
6 (22,24, 28,31,32,37)
2 (25, 26)
1 (33)
1 (34)
2 (14,10)
Most of the teachers agree with the opinion that “the content is sufficient, but must be
improved”. The teachers suggested that some deficiencies be removed. One of these
deficiencies is increasing the number of activities so as to apply and update the content.
Answers of the students to the question “Can you evaluate the Social Studies course
according to active citizenship education?” and the frequency distribution are shown below
in Table 3.
Table 3. Opinions of the Students on Social Studies Course in relation with Active
Citizenship and Frequency Distribution
Evaluation
f
Sufficient
7 (2,4,5,7,9,10,11)
Very nice course
4 (1,3,6,8)
Insufficient
2 (28,29)
Very helpful
1 (30)
Very helpful course for cleaning 1 (6)
It covers a half
1 (16)
I do not have an opinion
4 (12, 13, 24, 27)
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Mevlana International Journal of Education (MIJE), 5(1); 10-25, 1 April, 2015
According to the students, the social studies course is efficient at gathering active citizenship
features. Nevertheless, when they were asked more detailed questions, their answers were not
clear. This is because, they are not aware of which citizenship feature they gathered. The
reason for this problem can be due to inadequate time for the lessons, time problem for
character training, social skills training and counselling courses or as mention in the
comments of teachers, the reason can be due to inadequate feasible and updateable activities
in the content.
3. Opinions of Teachers on Planning Citizenship Education in Social Studies Course
The answers of teachers to the question “How do you plan citizenship activities that
you use in Social Studies course?” and frequency distribution are shown in Table 4.
Table 4. Opinions of teachers on planning citizenship education in Social Studies course and
frequency distribution
Teachers' planning
f (Class Teachers)
f (Social Studies
Citizenship Education in
Teacher)
Social Studies Course
I directly apply the plan in the 14 (1,10,13,16,18,19,24,
2 (14,27)
curriculum in teachers' guide 29,33,34,35,36,37,38)
book.
I apply the plan in the 1 (20)
curriculum in teachers' guide
book by making some
changes.
The changes made in the 14
8
curriculum in teachers' guide (2,4,5,6,7,8,9,17,21,22,23,28,31,32) (3,11,12,14,15,25,26,
book.
30)
When the opinions of teachers on planning citizenship education in Social Studies course
were analyzed, their clear answers are “I make some changes” (20) and “I make some
changes with my colleagues in the same branch” (14). According to the changes that they
made on teachers' guide book, answers revolved around some statements such as “I make use
of some current events (striking examples” (6), “I try to adapt what we learn to our
environment (environmental features)” (6), “I try to let them be active students in the class
and school” (5), “I consider the level, interests and requests of the student.” (4).
4. Opinions of Teachers and Students on the Activities for Citizenship Education in
Social Studies Course
The answers of teachers to the question “What kind of activities do you use for
citizenship education in Social Studies course?” and the corresponding frequency distribution
are shown in Table 5.
Table 5. Opinions of Teachers and Students on the Activities for Citizenship Education in
Social Studies Course and Frequency Distribution
Activity No f (Class Teachers) f (Social Studies Teachers) f (Students)
1
Animating
Sampling
Activities in the book
2
Discussing
Catechise, discussing
Drama
3
Observation
Narration
Reading Text
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According to the Opinions of Teachers and Students Active Citizenship…Y. Öksüz & C. Çevik Kansu
4
Conversation
Power point presentation
Writing
While class teachers state that they use animating activities most, social studies teachers
mostly use sample happenings. However, students indicate that they use the activities in
books.
5. Opinions of Teachers on the Material They Use for Citizenship Education in Social
Studies Course
The answers of the teachers to the question “What kind of materials do you use for
citizenship education in Social Studies course?” and frequency distribution are shown in
Table 6.
Tablo 6. Opinions of Teachers on the Material They Use for Citizenship Education in Social
Studies Course and Frequency Distribution
Materials
f (Class
f (Social Studies
f (Students)
Teachers)
Teachers)
Visual and Auditory
22
6
Materials
Documents
2
Information
10
3
4
Technologies
Mass Media
2
2
Guide People
2
Real Objects
13
1
Course Materials
25 (pencil, notebook,
rubber etc.)
From the above, it is seen that the teachers mostly use visual and auditory materials.
However, the students consider the equipments that they use during the classes as materials,
such as pencil, notebook, rubber etc.
6. Opinions of Teachers on the Problems They Face in Citizenship Education in Social
Studies Course
The answers of the teachers to the question “What kind of problems do you face with in
citizenship education in Social Studies course?” and the corresponding frequency distribution
are shown in Table 7.
Table 7. Opinions of Teachers on the Problems They Face in Citizenship Education in Social
Studies Course and Frequency Distribution
Problems Teachers Face with in Citizenship f (Class Teacher)
f (Social Studies
Education in Social Studies Course
Teacher)
Curriculum
7
4
Subjects and activities in the curriculum are 4 (7,35,37,38)
2 (14,27)
very abstract.
The number of activities in the curriculum is too 1 (21)
3 (14,25,26)
high (time problem).
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Mevlana International Journal of Education (MIJE), 5(1); 10-25, 1 April, 2015
Insufficient materials that are suitable for the
curriculum (especially visual materials)
Citizenship activities in Social Studies course
do not fit with citizenship activities in the
schoos
School and Education system
Insufficient physical potentials of the school
Lack of democracy
Examination system
Family
Difference between what is taught in schools
and in the house
Cultural, socio-economical and educational
level of parents
Bad connection between school, student and
family
Student
Deficiency in sense of responsibility
1 (19)
1 (5)
3
1 (19)
1 (33)
1 (28)
6
3 (8,31,34)
1
2 (32,34)
1 (15)
1 (3)
3
2 (3,14)
1 (10)
13
7
(13,16,17,18,20,29,38)
Lack of respect for values
3 (23,24,37)
Being prone to fight
2 (2,33)
They are aware of their rights but they do not 1 (38)
know their boundaries
They do not listen to each other
1 (23)
Subjects
5
Difficulties in applying for out-of-school 3 (4,5,6)
activities
Teachers cannot keep up with the time
2 (2,31)
Teachers do not try enough
1 (4)
Environment
6
Insufficient socio-economic potentials in 4 (4,7,9,33)
environment
Unfavorable climate conditions
1 (9)
False beliefs in nation
1 (6)
2
1 (12)
1 (11)
Class teachers said the cause of the problems include student (13), curriculum (7), family and
environment (6), subjects (5), school or education system (3); while social studies teachers,
blamed it on curriculum (4), family (3), student (2) and school and education system (1).
7. Opinions of Teacher on Their Suggestions for Active Citizenship Education in Social
Studies Course
The answers of the teachers to the question “What are your suggestions for better
citizenship education in Social Studies course?” and frequency distribution are shown in
Table 8.
Table 8. Opinions of Teacher on Their Suggestions for Active Citizenship Education in Social
Studies Course and Frequency Distribution
Solution Suggestions of Teachers
f (Class Teachers)
f (Social
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According to the Opinions of Teachers and Students Active Citizenship…Y. Öksüz & C. Çevik Kansu
for the Problems They Face in
Citizenship Education in Social
Studies Course
Curriculum
Culture of democracy must be taught
in a step by step manner in each grade
Citizenship education must be given
in every course
Curriculum must contain trips and
observations
There must be more concrete
activities, as well as animating and
applied activities
There must be more in touch with the
world of children
There must be more activities for
increasing assertiveness and selfconfidence in children
It should not be totally based on
games.
Connection between lessons and units
must be better
Guide books should not be abstract
and superficial
It must fit into the emotional world of
children
It must be eased and essential
precautions must be taken to apply the
activities
There must be more activities based
on games
School and Education System
All the clubs must work in connection
with an association or foundation
The ones in higher positions must
work along with the one in lower
positions
We must overcome the fear culture
Respect for differences must be
adopted
Reports prepared at the end of the
year must be taken into consideration
The concept of being a nation must be
emphasized instead of individualism
Free activity course must be included
Career days must be organized
Materials that are suitable for 4th
grade level must be developed
Computer software must be used
Studies
Teachers)
3 (2,16,34)
1 (3)
1 (3)
6 (4,8,21,22,35,36)
2 (14,27)
12
(4,9,17,19,21,24,28,31,34,35,37,38)
2 (26,27)
6 (7,9,28,31,34,37)
2 (8,32)
1 (10)
1 (15)
3 (33,37)
1 (15)
1 (17)
1 (19)
1 (23)
1 (2)
1 (16)
3 (16,32,34)
1 (16)
1 (17)
1 (20)
2 (24,35)
1 (27)
1 (30)
1 (25)
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Mevlana International Journal of Education (MIJE), 5(1); 10-25, 1 April, 2015
Family
Family must support the education in
the school
There must be meetings and seminars
about this for parents
The child must be appreciated
Family and nation must be supervised
together respectively
Teacher
The feeling of possession must be
improved
Planning must be made with children
The child must be appreciated
Class teachers must be trained in this
subject
The effect of media on children must
be considered
Environment
Environment must support the
education in the school
People with various professions must
be invited to the school
Child must be appreciated
1 (5)
1 (12)
6 (5,6,13,29,34,38)
2 (11,12)
1 (12)
1 (11)
1 (1)
1 (12)
2 (6,35)
1 (12)
1 (30)
1 (38)
1 (5)
1 (12)
2 (8,22)
2 (14,27)
1 (12)
Mostly, teachers suggest that there should be concentration on applied activities and
organizing trips and observation activities for improving the curriculum. For improving
school and education system, they have given suggestions like organizing career days, coming
over the fear culture, and the involvement of free activity course as well. For family problems,
suggestions are generally focused on giving seminars, organizing meeting for the parents.
8. Ideas of Students for Improving Social Studies Course to be an Active Citizen
The answers of students to the question “What are your ideas and suggestions for you
to gain active citizenship features?” and the corresponding frequency distribution are shown
in Table 9.
Table 9. Ideas of Students for Improving Social Studies Course to be an Active Citizen and
Frequency Distribution
Suggestions
f
Trips can be helpful
7
(4,8,10,11,16,19,28)
Theater performances can be helpful
5 (9,15,18,19,30)
Communication with family must be provided
2 (7,22)
A picnic can be organized to keep the environment clean.
2 (14,23)
Activities must be supported with games
2 (22,27)
There must be projection
2 (23,25)
It can be helpful to have some texts book on how to behave well to 1 (1)
our friends
There can be teacher or student relations between classes (the ones 1 (2)
who cannot get along well with the others)
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According to the Opinions of Teachers and Students Active Citizenship…Y. Öksüz & C. Çevik Kansu
I would like to have this education as a course
There can be more subjects
More activities like collecting old batteries can be helpful
I want to be a member of library
Teacher can punish naughty students
Watching a video can be helpful.
I would like the books to open on their own
Every week a group can collect the rubbish in the school.
I want some cameras to be placed in toilets
We can study visually in computer rooms.
To form a ensemble
Animating outside can be helpful
To go to the cinema
Collecting some money to improve the materials in the school
There must be drawing and painting activities
To make projects with clubs (Trips, career days)
1 (3)
1 (5)
1 (6)
1 (12)
1 (12)
1 (15)
1 (15)
1 (16)
1 (16)
1 (16)
1 (17)
1 (23)
1 (24)
1 (26)
1 (29)
1 (30)
The answers of students on active citizenship education in Social Studies class, disclosed that
they focus more on activities like trips, theater performances, etc. The cause of this situation
can be the difficulties that teachers face when organizing such activities which require a long
procedure.
Results and Conclusion
Qualitative research methods has been used by many researchers to understand the
opinions and feelings of teachers and student on citizenship education (Adayemi, Boikhutso
and Moffat, 2003; Arıkan, 2002; Browne, 2001; Davies and Evans, 2003; Davies, Gregory
and Riley, 1999; Dunkin, Welch, Merritt, Phillips and Cranen, 1998; Güven, 2002; Özbek,
2004; Pederson and Cogan, 2003; Pang and Gibson, 2001; Shelly, 1996). But in this study,
opinions of the classroom teachers and social studies teachers about active citizen and active
citizenship education in social studies classes were jointly investigated with the student’s.
According to the teachers, an active citizen should know and should use the citizenship and
human rights very well. Whereas, according to the students, an active citizen should behave
according to the rules of good manners. Moreover, both students and teacher stated that
individuals must have a sense of responsibility and environmental consciousness in order to
be active citizens. Teachers emphasized on the feature of active citizen “who know his/her
rights and responsibilities” during the interview. This most repeated opinion coincides with
the studies of Adayemi et al. (2003), Ersoy (2007) and, Pang and Gibson (2001). The active
citizenship term emphasized influence in area of the individuals and citizen participation with
active or effective terms in literature (Hoskins ve Mascherini, 2009).
When opinions of the teachers and students on sufficiency of social studies courses in
gathering active citizenship features were investigated; teachers state that the entire course
includes information about citizenship and human rights education, yet, the Social Studies
course is more important in this aspect (Dynneson and Gross, 1982; Ersoy, 2007; Grand and
Vansledrigt, 1996; Hartoonian, 1985). Teachers lay much emphasis on the fact that even
though the Social Studies course is sufficient in content, it must also be improved. According
to the students, the Social Studies course is sufficient in the aspect of developing a sense of
citizenship. However, when a deeper question is asked, the answers that they give show that
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Mevlana International Journal of Education (MIJE), 5(1); 10-25, 1 April, 2015
the acquisition has not reached to the desired level. In literature studies, the social studies
course showed that there is an insufficient achievement of active citizenship education which
supports the results (Arslan, 2014; Ersoy, 2014). However, there are many records that show
the contrary of these results in the literature. (Semenderoğlu ve Gülersoy, 2005; Gömleksiz ve
Kan, 2007; Demir, 2008; Ersoy ve Kaya, 2008; Vural, 2008; Çetin, 2009; Ayva, 2010)
When the opinions of teachers on planning citizenship education in social studies course were
investigated; the plans of teachers on citizenship education in Social Studies course was found
to be implemented by a book called teachers' guide book together with some changes. Also,
only half of the class teachers seem to use the teachers' guide book without any change. This
finding coincided with the studies of Blake, Brandy and Sanchez (2003), Browne (2001),
Ersoy (2007) and Arslan (2014). Nevertheless, the teachers were found to be insufficient to
teach human rights and citizenship education to the students (Ülger ve Yel, 2013).
When the opinions of teachers and students on the activities for citizenship education in social
studies course were investigated; the result disclosed that teachers use in-class activities to
give citizenship education. They even applied student activities that are contained in books.
Lastly, there are not enough out-of-school activities which give children an opportunity to
work in public. This finding coincides with the studies of Çengelci (2013), Ülger (2013),
Ersoy (2007), Mckay (1996), Pederson and Cogan (2003) ve Wilkins (2003). Yet, in other
studies in the literature, the importance of out-of-school activities has been emphasized
(Adayemi et al, 2003; Potter, 2002).
When the opinions of teachers on the materials they use for citizenship education in the social
studies course were investigated; the outcome showed that citizenship education materials are
generally made of visual and auditory materials. This finding coincides with the studies of
Ersoy (2007), Gündoğdu (2001), Pederson and Cogan (2000) and, Torney-Purta and Vermeer
(2004). The students also do make use of instruments and equipments which belong to the
course with their teachers during the class activities. This means that the students were not
actively involved in the course or methods and techniques used by the teachers because they
were not supported with sufficient instruments and equipments.
When the opinions of teachers on the problems they face in citizenship education in social
studies course were investigated; teachers seem to face some problems while teaching active
citizenship in Social Studies course. The problems that teachers face have been classified into
six titles which include; student, curriculum, family, environment, school and education
system.
These results were synonymous with the problems that happened in the literature (Aykaç ve
Başar, 2005; Kıvanç, 2005; Yaşar, 2005; Ersoy, 2006; Aydın, 2007; Çetin, 2007; Ersoy, 2007;
Çelik, 2009; Ersoy, 2009; Aydeniz, 2010; Güven, 2010; Ersoy, 2014).
When opinions of the teachers on their suggestions for active citizenship education in social
studies course were investigated; they gave some suggestions on how to tackle the problems
that they face in each category. Suggestions solve the problems in the curriculum, the school
and education system in a better way.
When the ideas of students on improving social studies course for the purpose of making
active citizen were investigated; some suggestions on how to improve the curriculum came
up. They include; organization of trips, performing of theatre plays, communication with
family and activities in order to collaborate with the environment.
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According to the Opinions of Teachers and Students Active Citizenship…Y. Öksüz & C. Çevik Kansu
Considering this study, the suggestions can be stated:







Active citizen activities may enhance the cooperation of civil associations with the
student’s parents at schools.
The teachers that are going to teach active citizen terms may plan the class conditions
together with civil associations.
Awareness studies on active citizen day may be of great help to teachers, society,
students and their parents.
The students may assess active citizen education practice through their teachers.
A study that includes the teacher’s active citizen education in private and public
schools should be conducted.
Projects, like the Comenius projects, with different countries, particularly countries
that have a good level of active citizen education can be organized as well as a
comparable education study.
Programmes for active citizenship education can be developed and can be tested with
experimental studies on different classes and courses at primary school.
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